Back in 2011, the FBI classified juggalos, or fans of Insane Clown Posse as a “loosely organized hybrid gang” in a report. In 2012, the Detroit duo filed a lawsuit against the FBI. Several weeks ago, lawyers for the FBI appeared in court and requested that the lawsuit be dismissed, stating that the government wasn’t responsible for how police use the information in a report on gangs. According to the AP, last week, a Detroit federal judge agreed with the FBI and dismissed the lawsuit, stating that acts by local police agencies using the 2011 report doesn’t fall under government responsibilities.
Sure, Insane Clown Posse isn’t metal, and let’s be honest, their music isn’t very good either. However, this ruling has implications for fans of any band or genre of music. Instead of fans of makeup-wearing rapping clowns, what if the FBI classified fans of black metal as a gang, and its fans were persecuted as such? The implications are somewhat chilling that the government can vilify an entire subculture. While the FBI stating that juggalos are a gang is, for now, an isolated incident, the dismissal of ICP’s lawsuit should be cause for concern regardless of how you feel about Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope.
